Now that the Brandon Bussi extension is taken care of, the Carolina Hurricanes have a couple more players that they could extend for the 2026-27 season, and beyond. One of those players is defenseman Alexander Nikishin. While it’s been a learning curve in his first season in the NHL, the Russian defenseman has held his own and shown flashes of why he was one of the best defenseman in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). That said, when the Hurricanes do extend him, will it be for a long-term deal or a short-term bridge?
Best Course of Action: Bridge or Long-Term Deal?
Currently, Nikishin is in the final part of his two-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract (ELC) that he signed last season before making his debut in the 2025 NHL Playoffs. He will be a restricted free agent (RFA) who is arbitration-eligible after the 2025-26 season. His average annual value (AVV) on his current deal is $925,000.
Related: Hurricanes’ Alexander Nikishin’s Early-Season Production Is Being Overlooked
Just like the questions swirling around the Bussi extension, what could a deal look like for the 24-year-old Russian? The 2025-26 season is officially his rookie season, not only in the NHL, but in North America as well. In 56 games, he has tallied seven goals and 22 points for Tim Gleason’s blue line. Nikishin is second on the team in goals and third in assists (15) and points for a defenseman. His plus-9 is tied for fourth on the entire team alongside Mike Reilly, Shayne Gostisbehere, and Jaccob Slavin.
All of that to say, what path are the Hurricanes going to go down when it comes to extending Nikishin? Are they thinking about doing a three-year bridge deal to give him more time to learn the system, the league, and the language? Or, will they go with the long-term option now, with a seven-year deal and move it along?
There are arguments to be made if the Hurricanes go with either option. A short-term bridge deal gives both sides more time to ease him into the system and not put all the pressure on the young defenseman after his first full season in the NHL, after three dominant years in the KHL. Currently, Gostisbehere and Jalen Chatfield are making $3.2 million and $3 million annually, and both will be going into the final year of their deals in 2026-27. Could a three-year, $3 million AAV contract be the way to go? Then, once that is done, when Nikishin is 27 or 28, he gets another extension that could be long-term until he is 34 or 35 years old?
Related: Hurricanes Secure Goaltending Position With Brandon Bussi Extension
Even if it was a three-year, $4 million AAV deal, that could give some flexibility for the Hurricanes to figure out their blue line for the next few seasons while Nikishin takes the time to settle in more in Raleigh. Although if they decide to go long-term regardless of how his rookie season goes, that is also a good option. If they sign him to a six or seven-year deal, which could pay him $6 million annually, it still gives them room regarding the cap.
The salary cap is supposed to get up to $104 to $105 million in 2026-27, then up again to over $113 million for 2027-28 and beyond. No matter how the AAV works out for Nikishin, the Hurricanes will still be in a good spot either way. It will come down to whether both sides can come to an agreement on a long or short-term deal. Plus, what could the AAV look like on either deal?
Regardless of how it works out in the end, Nikishin will be the next player to get an extension before the 2026-27 season with the Hurricanes. It will come down to what general manager Eric Tulsky and the front office can work out with Nikishin and his camp on whether it’ll be a bridge or a long-term deal to stay in Carolina. From what he can do on the ice now, he has shown flashes of being a top-four defenseman; all that’s left is putting pen to paper.
